James b



JAMES B. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY C. BUHOUP,

OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-EXTENGUISHING COMPOUND.

SPECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,886, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed March 2, 1585.

pose which may be handled or stored in any convenient vessel or package without any ne' cessity to hermetically seal the vessel or package, which compound, though kept continuously in either a very high or a very low temperature, willnot by evaporation either lose any of its antiphlogistic qualities, or vitiate the surrounding atmosphere, or precipitate obnoxious gases or salts upon adjacent articles, in which compound no chemical reaction takes place until subjected to a temperature of about 200 Fahrenheit, which will not crystallize at any ordinary low tempera ture to such an extent as to either destroy the antiphlogistic qualities of the liquid or prevent its free use through any ordinary hose or nozzle, and which, when subjected to fire heat, will freely give off both light and heavy gases, expanding in all directions,which gases, aided by the smothering inerustation of the salt of the liquid, will immediately extinguish the fire.

The compound which I have invented and discovered accomplishes to a greater or less extent each and every the objects named; and

it consists, essentially, of the solution, in any convenient quantity of water, of sulphite, or hyposulphite ofsoda with muriate of an] monia. I prefer hyposulphite of soda to sulphite of soda, because it is cheaper and because it is 0 stronger, it being one of the principal features of my compound,which gives it great advantages and distinguishes it from compounds which slightly resemble it which have been heretofore patented or used, that this com- 5 pound may be made of any desired strength ,without danger of its destroying itself by evaporation, either before it is securely sealed or by reason of imperfect sealing, and without danger of its losing its gases while being pro (No specimens.)

ments I prefer to add a quantity of common rock-salt, partly to reduce the temperature at which the mixture will freeze, and partly because I have discovered that adding rock-salt incrustation or smothering effect upon the fire which is produced byliberating the gases and precipitating the salts of said essential elements.

guishing fire by liberating from solutions gases which are obnoxious to combustion (1) mnriate of ammonia has been used, and (2) sulphite and hyposulphite of soda, either singly inonia, in combination with other salts which produce carbonateof ammonia,have been used, and I do not claim either of the three solutions just named. Every compound or mixture for ented or used, so far as I am aware, excepting the simple and by itself practically ineffective solution of muriate of ammonia in water, is subject to spontaneous evaporation, and to the the manufacture and use with it of special vessels, packages, or pumps, and both before it is sealed and by reason of imperfect sealing, and while it is being precipitated upon the fire,

gases which make it effective.

I have ascertained by abundant experiments that in my present compound no appreciable evaporation or other chemical reaction, though til it has been raised to a temperature of about 200 Fahrenheit, and I have used the mixture effectively when it was at a temperature of 25. When the solution by contact with lire becomes of sulphurous acid (sulphur dioxide) and ammonia is given off in large quantity. The mixed gases, it is found, are much more efficient and rapid in extinguishing fire (each aseither separately. It is probable that the ammonia acts as a carrier of the sulphurous acid, diffusing it more rapidly; but whatever the action I have discovered and proved by practito the essential elements named increases the I am aware that for the purpose of extinor mixed, have been used, and (3) salts of amthis purpose which has been heretofore pat- 7o necessity of being hermetically sealed, and to will very rapidly lose in large proportions the it be for a long time exposed, takes place unheated to or above 200 Fahrenheit, a mixture sisting or cooperating with the other) than 5 cal trial that the mixed gases are more efli- 10o cient and rapid in their action than either alone.

So far as I am aware a compound stable at ordinary temperatures, but giving off, when 5 heated to a high temperature, and then only, a mixture of ammonia and sulphurous acid,

has never been produced or used except since myinvention. In my compound the muriate of ammoniais not added to the sulphite or hypo- 1o sulphiteof soda simply for its own individual antiphlogistic properties, in order to produce a compound having the-sum of the properties of the two ingredients, but as a stable source of ammonia which at the time of use shall be I 5 given oft in admixture with sulphurous acid,

JAMES B. SMITH. Witnesses:

P. H. T. MASON, W. G. RAMEY.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 314,886, granted March 31, 1885,

upon the application of James R. Smith, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in l viz:

the case in the Patent Office.

UK Lulu [SEAL] Ill 5 o I; o cm L- 9- 0 3 I Fire Extinguishing Compounds, an error appears requiring the following correction,

In line 88, page 1, of the printed specification, the clause reading was at a temperature of 25 should read was at a temperature of -25 and that the Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein to make it conform to the record of Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 21st day of April, A. D. 1885.

H. L. MUL DROW, Acting Secretary of the Interior.

correction It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 314,886, granted March 31, 1885,

upon the application of James R. Smith, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in j Fire Extinguishing Compounds, an error appears requiring the following correction,

viz: In line 88, page 1, of the printed specification, the clause reading was at a temperature of 25, should read was at a temperature of .25; and that the Letters IlEatent should be read with this correction therein to make it conform to the record of I the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 21st day of April, A. D. 1885.

[SEAL] H. L. MUL DROW,

Acting Secretary of the Interior. Oountersigned M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents. 

